White Campion

Silene latifolia

Plant Data

Order:

Caryophyllales

Family:

Caryophyllaceae (Pink)

Type:

Flower

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Flower:

White, 5 petals

5 white notched petals, up to 3cm. Calyx is greener, narrower and twice as long as with Red Campion.

Fruit:

Light yellow or brown ovoid capsules, bearing numerous seeds.

Leaves:

Opposite, hairy, untoothed, lanceolate, dark green leaves. Basal leaves are stalked and the upper leaves are unstalked.

Maximum Size:

1 metre tall

Foraging Notes:

Normally described as not edible but some say you can eat it.
Never consume a wild plant unless you are 100% certain that it is safe to eat and you know that you have identified it correctly.

Aroma:

Carries a weak fragrant at night.

Other Names:

Bladder Campion, Bull Rattle, Cockle, Cow Rattle, Cuckoo Flower, Evening Lychnis, Flower of the Dead, Grave Flower, Thunder-flower, White Bachelor's Button, White Cockle, White Robin, Wide-leaved Bladder Catchfly.

Frequency (UK):

Common

Habitats:

Farmland, gardens, roadsides, walls, wasteland.